Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was released on bail around 1pm today, following the Taipei District Court’s ruling this morning to set the former Taipei mayor’s bail at NT$30 million (US$916,576).
Ko was met by TPP staff when he exited the detention center where he had been held for 114 days, returning home by car.
“I am not a corrupt person,” Ko said upon arriving home, and expressed gratitude to those who supported him during this troubling time.
Photo: CNA
“I thank God for giving me the chance to reflect on my life, which is not always easy,” he said.
He said his heart was not “filled with hatred” because of his detention, as he believes “positive energy” would make Taiwan a better place.
“I have to go home now. I want to be with my family and fulfill my filial duty. It is hard to explain in a few words. Let’s wait for the truth to come out,” he said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Yesterday, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Ko and 10 others on charges of bribery, favoritism, embezzlement and other offenses under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例).
Prosecutors believe Ko received bribes and embezzled political donations and are seeking a total prison sentence of 28 years and 6 months, a deprivation of civil rights for 10 years and a fine of NT$50 million.
Ko and four other detained defendants last night were transferred to the court, who held a review hearing at 7:30pm to decide whether they should remain detained.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
A confrontation followed outside the court between police and TPP caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), who requested access to the detention hearing, as well as other TPP legislators and supporters.
A video of Huang yelling at police was posted online, where netizens commented that he was “obstructing justice,” “pressuring police officers” and “acting like a madman.”
Early this morning, the court announced it had set a bail of NT$30 million for Ko and would restrict him from leaving the country or traveling overseas.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Prosecutors announced that they would file an appeal with the High Court upon receiving the court’s decision.
There is a possibility Ko could face further detention, legal experts said.
Ko said he would not flee during the detention hearing, “because the TPP would be ruined otherwise.”
Huang said that the party would raise the funds to free Ko once banks opened today, “because Ko’s family does not have the money.”
Separately, Ko’s sister Ko Mei-lan (柯美蘭) called for donations to the party for Ko’s bail, sparking criticism that Ko would rely on public donations after being charged with corruption and embezzlement.
Party leaders said her actions were inappropriate, particularly mentioning the use of donations for Ko’s bail.
There are many battles ahead for Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, and he would continue to stand by Ko’s side, Huang said.
Ko was wronged throughout the entire investigation process and the prosecutors had fabricated charges, he said.
Prosecutors claimed Ko had accepted a bribe of NT$15 million, but could not specify where the money came from, Huang said.
Ko also continued to deny charges of accepting bribes and embezzlement during the detention hearing.
Ko has never diverted funds intended for public use for private use and has been “politically persecuted” by President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration, Huang said.
The Taipei City Police Department cleared the area in front of the court this morning at 9am to prevent the public from occupying the area.
The sidewalk on the opposite side of the road remained open and less than 50 Ko supporters had gathered there by 9am.
As of 10:30am, around 200 supporters had gathered at the Aiguo West Road and Boai Road intersection.
Meanwhile, defendants Pong Cheng-sheng and Lee Wen-tsung were set free on bail earlier in the day after paying their respective bails of NT$5 million and NT$10 million.
Additional reporting by Liu Wan-lin, Liu Ching-hou, Hung Mei-hsu and Yang Kuo-wen
CLASH OF WORDS: While China’s foreign minister insisted the US play a constructive role with China, Rubio stressed Washington’s commitment to its allies in the region The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday affirmed and welcomed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio statements expressing the US’ “serious concern over China’s coercive actions against Taiwan” and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, in a telephone call with his Chinese counterpart. The ministry in a news release yesterday also said that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had stated many fallacies about Taiwan in the call. “We solemnly emphasize again that our country and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and it has been an objective fact for a long time, as well as
‘CHARM OFFENSIVE’: Beijing has been sending senior Chinese officials to Okinawa as part of efforts to influence public opinion against the US, the ‘Telegraph’ reported Beijing is believed to be sowing divisions in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture to better facilitate an invasion of Taiwan, British newspaper the Telegraph reported on Saturday. Less than 750km from Taiwan, Okinawa hosts nearly 30,000 US troops who would likely “play a pivotal role should Beijing order the invasion of Taiwan,” it wrote. To prevent US intervention in an invasion, China is carrying out a “silent invasion” of Okinawa by stoking the flames of discontent among locals toward the US presence in the prefecture, it said. Beijing is also allegedly funding separatists in the region, including Chosuke Yara, the head of the Ryukyu Independence
‘ARMED GROUP’: Two defendants used Chinese funds to form the ‘Republic of China Taiwan Military Government,’ posing a threat to national security, prosecutors said A retired lieutenant general has been charged after using funds from China to recruit military personnel for an “armed” group that would assist invading Chinese forces, prosecutors said yesterday. The retired officer, Kao An-kuo (高安國), was among six people indicted for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法), the High Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement. The group visited China multiple times, separately and together, from 2018 to last year, where they met Chinese military intelligence personnel for instructions and funding “to initiate and develop organizations for China,” prosecutors said. Their actions posed a “serious threat” to “national security and social stability,” the statement
‘VERY SHALLOW’: The center of Saturday’s quake in Tainan’s Dongshan District hit at a depth of 7.7km, while yesterday’s in Nansai was at a depth of 8.1km, the CWA said Two magnitude 5.7 earthquakes that struck on Saturday night and yesterday morning were aftershocks triggered by a magnitude 6.4 quake on Tuesday last week, a seismologist said, adding that the epicenters of the aftershocks are moving westward. Saturday and yesterday’s earthquakes occurred as people were preparing for the Lunar New Year holiday this week. As of 10am yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) recorded 110 aftershocks from last week’s main earthquake, including six magnitude 5 to 6 quakes and 32 magnitude 4 to 5 tremors. Seventy-one of the earthquakes were smaller than magnitude 4. Thirty-one of the aftershocks were felt nationwide, while 79
RSS